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Junior Cycle · Junior Cycle English

Junior Cycle English: Poetic techniques and imagery

How often Poetic techniques and imagery comes up on the English papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 6 of the last 8 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 7 of the last 8 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Poetic techniques and imagery, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Poetic techniques and imagery.

(a)'The kettle whistled and the bacon hissed.' Which technique is used?
  1. Alliteration
  2. Onomatopoeia
  3. Metaphor
(b)'Her smile was a lighthouse in the storm.' Which technique is this?
  1. Hyperbole
  2. Simile
  3. Metaphor
(c)'The old gate complained as I pushed it open.' Which technique is used?
  1. Personification
  2. An extended simile
  3. Alliteration
Show the answers

(a) Onomatopoeia

(b) Metaphor

(c) Personification

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Poetic techniques and imagery.

Higher Level

Asked on 6 of the last 8 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Not asked
2025Q2
2024Q8
2023Q4, Q5
2022Q4, Q5, Q6
2019Q2, Q3, Q4
2018Not asked
2017Q3

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Poetic techniques and imagery questions

Poetic techniques and imagery, 2 marks

A line repeated throughout a poem, like a chorus in a song, is called what?

  1. A couplet
  2. A sonnet
  3. A refrain
Show the answer

A refrain

A refrain returns at intervals, like a chorus. It builds rhythm and emphasis, and its meaning can deepen or change each time it is heard.

Poetic techniques and imagery, 2 marks

Which of these lines contains alliteration?

  1. 'He ran like a frightened deer'
  2. 'Bold bells boomed at noon'
  3. 'The sun rose over the hill'
Show the answer

'Bold bells boomed at noon'

Alliteration repeats the same consonant sound at the start of nearby words (b, b, b). It adds rhythm, makes lines memorable and can make them sound heavy or playful.

Poetic techniques and imagery, 2 marks

'Wet grass soaked through my socks as I crossed the field.' This image appeals mainly to which sense?

  1. Touch
  2. Taste
  3. Hearing
Show the answer

Touch

Imagery appeals to the senses. Wet and soaked make us feel the cold damp, so we share the speaker's experience. Name the sense and say what it adds.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 7 of the last 8 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q7, Q9
2025Q6
2024Q11
2023Q1, Q4
2022Q12, Q13
2019Q13
2018Not asked
2017Q15

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Poetic techniques and imagery questions

Poetic techniques and imagery, 3 marks

'The rain fell like tiny needles.' This is an example of...

  1. A metaphor
  2. Onomatopoeia
  3. A simile
Show the answer

A simile

A simile compares two things using like or as. Rain is compared to needles to show it was sharp and stinging.

Poetic techniques and imagery, 3 marks

'The classroom was a zoo.' This is an example of...

  1. Assonance
  2. A metaphor
  3. A simile
Show the answer

A metaphor

A metaphor says one thing is another, with no like or as. Calling the classroom a zoo suggests it was wild and noisy.

Poetic techniques and imagery, 3 marks

'The moon smiled down on the sleeping town.' Which technique is used?

  1. Personification
  2. Rhyming couplet
  3. Onomatopoeia
Show the answer

Personification

Personification gives human actions to things that are not human. The moon cannot smile, so the poet makes it seem kind and watchful.

Other English topics

All of Junior Cycle English